Tag Archives: Cycling

Summer in the Charente is an undeniably wonderful time with long hot sunny days, al freso eating, pretty-as-a-picture countryside, warm swimming pools and all the facilities/attractions in full swing for holidaymakers.

However, once the summer season comes to an end, there are still fabulous things to experience in Autumn – warm daytime sunshine, chilly starts, the odd log fire, mist hanging over the rivers and of course all the wonderful produce that nature provides at this time of the year.

Throughout October the trees in the Charente are simply groaning with produce… Figs!

Figs are expensive and sought-after in many countries but here in the Charente they are laden on the trees and the air is positively heavy with that gorgeous earthy ‘figgy’ sweet smell.

So now as we head into November we must decide what to do without figgy harvest… thankfully figs are delicious in a range of local recipes!

Try roasted figs, drizzled in local Charentais honey with a dab of mascarpone cheese…

Or make a simple goats cheese and fig tart – goats cheese in the Charente is notoriously good and so cheap to buy at the local markets…

Or combine figs with local Cognac and make caramelised fig and cognac liquer in time for Xmas. Simply caramelise the figs, places in bottles/jars with sugar/cognac, shake once a week and wait 6-8 weeks – if you can!

Lastly figs are simply wonderful in preserves or chutneys and a great addition to cold meats or game. Ingredients can be varied depending whether a spicy or dark/sticky chutney is desired but staple ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, mustard seeds, brown sugar & cinnamon/cloves/ginger all work wonderfully with fresh figs.

Bon appetit!

Explore everything the Charente has to offer…

Whatever your age or ability, it is our aim at Bike Hire Direct Charente to make hiring bikes as easy as possible for you!

There is no need to have the extra hassle of transporting your own bikes… let us know where you are staying and we will deliver bikes directly to your holiday accommodation ready for you to enjoy on your holiday!

The Garonne river snakes its way through the city of Bordeaux creating the need for several bridges to connect the two sides.

There are three main bridges along this section of the river, and although they are very different, each one is a thing of beauty and engineering brilliance!

I decided to take my bike and ride over all three of these bridges to find out which one I liked best, and where I could find the best view of the city.

Starting in the city centre, I made my way down to the Garonne river. The side of the river is nicely pedestrianised with more than enough space for the many cyclists, runners, walkers and rollerbladers who take advantage of this great space every day. The first bridge on my radar was the most famous bridge in the city.

Built in 1819, Pont de Pierre was the first bridge over the river Garonne in Bordeaux. The strong currents of the river made construction very difficult and anyone who has crossed this bridge and seen the currents will be amazed at how they ever managed to build the bridge at all!

The end result though is truly breathtaking and the views of the bridge and from the bridge are equally stunning.

View of the bridge with Basilique Saint-Michel in the background.

Looking out at the city from the middle of the bridge. The Palace de la Bourse is in the middle of the buildings.

From here I headed back along the riverside path past the Mirror d’Eau and towards my next stopping point, the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas. In stark contrast to the Pont de Pierre, this structure is a vertical lift bridge which was opened in 2013. The entire middle section of the bridge raises up to the top of the 4 towers to allow large ships and cruise liners into the port.

This is the view of the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas bridge…

And the view from the bridge…

I have never been lucky enough to see the bridge raise or lower but this great time-lapse video allows you to see the bridge in action…

My last stop was the largest of the three bridges and a short ride out of the city centre along quiet roads. I followed the river as closely as I could with the last bridge always looming in the distance.

The Pont d’Aquitaine is a huge suspension bridge and an amazing sight. Built in 1967, it forms part of the ring road around the city so is very busy with cars and has three lanes in each direction.

Safe cycle paths off the road make it great to cycle up and over, although reaching the middle of the bridge is a fair climb so be ready to put some effort in.

Once at the top of the bridge, you’ll be glad you made the trip – there are amazing views from the bridge of the river Garonne with the city centre in the distance…

And that’s it! What a great afternoon on my bike!

Which bridge did you prefer?

Explore Bordeaux by bike…

Hiring a bike to discover Bordeaux or anywhere else in the Gironde could not be easier with Bike Hire Direct.

We offer bike hire with free delivery and collection direct to your holiday accommodation or in fact any other location you might want to meet us!

Contact us today to find out more and speak with our knowledgeable team about what you can discover by bike in this great region

I’d seen the guide book photos and passed the road signs, so I was aware of Hiers Brouage, but it took my 6 year old visiting with her class on a school trip and the village recently being added to the ‘most beautiful villages in France’ list to make me realise I should take the time to investigate this fortified village.

I’m guilty of living in an area that has so many tourist destinations that I take it for granted, so now on the days when I’m not delivering or collecting bikes I become a tourist! However always in the back of my mind is ‘how can I enjoy this on my bike?’.

South of Rochefort, East of Il d’Oleron, North of Marennes it’s in a prime ‘EuroVelo1’ location! If you’re cycling the coast you’re virtually passing it. Take the time to visit the artisan shops and cafés – it’s worth it.

Also, if you’re a bike enthusiast, there’s a bike museum! Acknowledged by many to be one of the best in France – admittance 5 euros.

I enjoy facts, historical facts are always good. In 1555 Brouage was established ‘on the coast’ to trade in ‘white gold’ or salt.

Today the town sits 3 kilometres from what was the gulf of Saintonge (now silted up) in the middle of the marshes. It’s surrounded by a haven for wildlife, but the town itself hasn’t changed much. It’s undergone restoration and parts have been rebuilt, but walking the 2.5km of defensive walls really gives you a sense of its history and the skill it must have taken to build something of this magnitude in the marshes.

19 watch towers defend its walls – “The town was fortified between 1630 and 1640 by Cardinal Richelieu as a Catholic bastion in order to fight against the neighbouring Protestant town of La Rochelle”.

Now they’re a great spot to bird watch from or just take the time to appreciate the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Described by many as a ‘sleepy’ village, I wouldn’t disagree, but it has enough charm, history and interest to make it a well worthwhile destination.

Discover the fortified towns of the Charente Maritime…

Other fortified towns or citadels in the Charente Maritime include Saint Martin de Re (on the Il de Re) and Chateau D’Oleron (on the Il D’Oleron) – and I can deliver bikes and collect them again from any of them.

Mareuil Sur Lay is a pretty Vendee village located at the edge of the Bocage on the banks of the river Lay.

In the middle of town is a camp site, and on the edge of the river you can hire out boats, paddle boards, canoes and peddle boats. Or just picnic by the side of the river and watch the world go by.

Also, in town there is a good selection of shops, including; Restaurants, a Bar, Boulangerie, Flower shop, Bank, Clothes boutique, and many more, as well as a Tourist Office.

The centre of town is the crowning glory, with the beautiful VII century Romanesque Church and Castle, over-looking the pretty river, with beautiful flowers and hanging baskets around the bridge and along the road through the town.

Just west of the town is the greatest concentration of wine growers with the largest output of wine per head in France!

There are 13 growers in total along the stretch of road from Mareuil Sur Lay to Champ St. Pere, with caves for you to buy from and do a little wine tasting, all accessible along the Routes des vin which is well sign posted and well worth the trip… for both the wine tasting and the pretty countryside.

Some say it is the Best wine in the Vendee, especially that produced around Rosnay…

Right in the middle of town between the Cathederal and the Wine Cave there is a ‘Vendée Velo’ cycle track…

If you follow the track to the junction and bare right, on the corner the cycle track goes off to the left. Where it goes down to the other side of the River Lay…

As you follow the track down, do so with caution as the track narrows as it gets closer to the river. Once past this section it does open out to a beautiful, shady track.

Full of wonderful scenery and secrets to really experience first hand…

Just following the track round, keeping to the right and onto the quiet roads leads you straight back to Mareuil Sur Lay. The whole track lasting about 4km.

Once you’ve made it back. If you’re looking for somewhere to set up and have a bit to eat or just relax. If you make your way left, following the Vendée Velo signs past the Cathedral and Castle. Taking a right onto the main high street and then your first left leads you to a great picnic area. Where you can hire paddle boards and rowing boats.

If you wanted to carry on cycling, the track goes around the camp site. Where you’ll find Children’s play areas, secluded picnic areas and tracks that run along the river side.

That’s our little journey around Mareuil Sur Lay, stopping off at J.Mourat Caves for a bottle of local red!

Explore the Vendee by bike…

At Bike Hire Direct we offer bike delivery and pick up direct to your holiday accommodation free of charge right across the Vendee.

We can deliver bikes anywhere around the Charente Maritime ready for you to enjoy – so contact Chris (the poet!) at the Bike Hire Direct Charente Maritime team on charentemaritime@bikehiredirect.com or visit the Bike Hire Direct website where you can also find more information on bike routes in the Charente Maritime.

Arcachon Bay is an amazing place with stunning natural beauty all around and countless things to do. It makes the perfect holiday destination for all the family. The largely flat terrain makes it perfect for cycling in the sun along the many miles of off road cycle paths. These can take you along the side of the beach with amazing views of the Bay or through the vast pine forests. You will certainly not be short on options of great places to explore.

The Dune du Pilat is one of the most popular tourist spots in the region and with good reason. It is the highest sand dune in Europe, measuring 500m wide and 2.7km in length with a height of 110m above sea level.

I decided to take my bike and start in the gorgeous town of Arcachon and make the short bike ride to Dune du Pilat. Once at the Dune I parked my bike up and made the trek up and over the Dune on foot.

Both the ride and the walk provided an amazing experience…

Starting in Arcachon, well laid out and smooth cycle paths take you all the way to the dune du Pilat, making this a safe and steady ride.

Here is the route I took. A leisurely 12km ride along flat cycle paths…

I arrived in the town of Arcachon mid-morning and the place was already very busy with excited people mostly heading to the beach. Arcachon is blessed with miles of perfect coastline and fantastic beaches so there is plenty of space for everyone.

I set off along the cycle path that runs right by the beach, offering amazing views of the bay.

After around 6km’s the Dune du Pilat can be seen from the beach in the distance.

The last couple of km’s takes you away from the beach and along the roads. These all have designated cycle lanes though making them very safe. Follow the signs for the Dune and you will be led all the way to the car park. This is generally very busy, but on my bike I could easily get all the way to the start of the walk way, where there is plenty of bike parking spots to lock up your bike.

With the bike safely locked up I was now on foot, making the short walk to the base of the dune.

You have the option of some stairs or working your way through the sand here.

Reaching the top is hard work, but once there you’ll be glad you did.

Outstanding views in every direction with the huge, vast pine forest to one side.

And the stunning bay to the other.

Once at the top I decided to go for it and walk the length of the dune. If you are planning on doing this, make sure you are well prepared with plenty of water and sun cream.

Walking through the deep sand is hard going but the amazing views keep you going.

As I got further along the dune there were many people enjoying the perfect conditions for para-gliding.

When I reached the far end of the dune, I decide the best way back was to walk down to the beach and stroll along with the water at my feet.

The beach here is fantastic and a really popular spot.

I then just had the small matter of walking back over the dune and back to the bike. The walk over was much tougher from this side and there are no stairs to help you out. I made it over though and got one more chance to enjoy the view before heading back to my bike.

An absolute superb day out and highly recommended. I will definitely be back to do this again!

Le Tranche sur Mer is a perfect place to visit this summer… with 13km of golden, sandy beaches, classified with blue flag and the family friendly classification ‘Famillie Plus’.

Because of the size of the beach there is plenty of space to enjoy a full variety of activities, from building sand castles, wind surfing, kite yachting, volleyball, football, trampolining or just taking a cool dip in the sea…

There’s also an excellent wave school on the beach to have lessons or just to hire windsurfing equipment and paddleboards alike…

The beach caters for all ages groups.

The South-East side of the beach is a lot calmer and more suitable for younger children and families. Whereas the North-West side is ideal for thrill seekers and sporting enthusiasts…

With inflatable goals, trampolines, volley ball nets and even small swimming pools; this area is great for kids of all ages. Giving them hours of fun all along the same beach…

However, if that isn’t for you, there are more relaxing activities around the beach… such as sunbathing on the golden sand!

The paths running alongside the beaches are very bike friendly – with smooth cycle tracks stretching the entire length of the beach…

You can easily go for a bike ride, park up at one the dedicated bike parks and head onto the beach…

There is also a long promenade along the beach where you will find somewhere to relax and have a drink or a meal…

Close by just behind the beach there is a street of artisan shops that lead you up into La Tranche’s Market Square – home to twice weekly markets… three times per week in the summer! Beyond the market square there is the main shopping where you sit and relax in the shade, browse some shops and finish the day with some delicious ice cream. Yum!

Explore the Vendee by bike…

At Bike Hire Direct we offer bike delivery and pick up direct to your holiday accommodation free of charge right across the Vendee.

If you’re looking for things to see and do to the west of Bordeaux in the Gironde region, Arcachon Bay and the Atlantic Coast will certainly keep you busy. From oyster farming and amazing beaches, to fantastic towns hosting many festivals through the summer; you will also find 100s of miles of cycle paths and Europe’s largest sand dune.

As well as all that, here’s another bit of inspiration for this August…

Splash Park – Lacanau

Jump into the Splash Park at Lacanau – an amazing, fun inflatable obstacle course for adults and children alike. Open every day from 10am through July and August.

Girondin Tour – Biscarrosse Plage and Arcachon

Organised by Football Club ‘FC Girondins de Bordeaux’ the 17th Girondin Tour visits Biscarrosse Plage on 9th August and Arcachon on 10th August – a great day for the whole family with free activities including football, beach games and concerts… and its all FREE!

Ocean Ride Surf School – Lacanau

Take a surfing lesson at the Ocean Ride surf school in Lacanau this summer. Whatever your age or ability, you can join this school for a day’s taster session or an intensive week course. Children as young as 5 can have a go with this team of experienced instructors.

Yoga & Surf – Verdon sur Mer

At the north of the Gironde coast in le Verdon-Sur-Mer the ladies can try ‘Yoga and Surf for Women’. This company offers yoga courses for women of all ages and ability, with an opportunity to also try some surfing! Packages include organic homemade meals and accommodation at a nearby campsite.

Kite Surf Club – Lacanau

Combine the power of wind and sea and try a little kite surfing with Kite Surf Club Lacanau!

Bike Ride – ANYWHERE along the coastline!

Take a leisurely bike ride through the pine forests that litter the coastline… there are well marked out, safe cycle paths which are perfect whatever your ability. Why not stop to enjoy a picnic along the way!

Kayaking, Canoeing and Paddle Boarding – Delta de la Leyre

Climb aboard your kayak, canoe or paddle board and discover the Delta de la Leyre (knick-named the ‘little Amazonia’). Fresh waters of the river and the salty waters of the ocean meet here in the Bassin of Arcachon Bay and the results are spectacular.

Cycling – The Velodyssee

Cycle the famous Velodyssee! A section of this smooth, flat and safe cycle path runs the length of the Gironde region along the Atlantic Coast… you can find out more on the official site:

Fishing Huts – Arcachon Bay

Take a look at the wooden huts near the Île aux Oiseaux in Arcachon Bay. Visit these famous and iconic structures by boat – or on foot when the tide is out!

Off the beaten track – Plage SUrveillee du Pin Sec

Plage surveillée du Pin Sec – visit this wild beach located between Hourtin-Plage and Montalivet. It is accessible by car only be a single road and then can be found by following trails over sand dunes

Explore the Atlantic coast of Gironde by bike…

If you’re looking for bike hire this summer along the coastline or anywhere in the Gironde region, Gareth and Steph at Bike Hire Direct are more than happy to help.

Don’t forget we can deliver and collect your bikes directly to and from your accommodation, making it even easier for you discover this fantastic region by bike.

Its August and there is so much to do in the Charente now the holidays are upon us – here is our pick of local events where you will be able to find us when we are not delivering bikes!

Festival de Confolens Danses et Musiques du Monde – Confolens

The vibrant town of Confolens comes alive in August for its annual International Folklore Festival… now in its 60th year!

It’s known all over the world, and brings together artistes from around the globe, with over 300,000 visitors descending on this attractive town on the banks of the Charente river.

Coupe d’Europe de Montgolfières – Mainfonds, Angouleme & Jonzac

The 20th European Cup of Hot Air Balloons takes place between 2nd and 6th August with a huge array of events.

There will be over 70 hot air balloons and a festival of aerial events with the Flying Bulls aerobatic team performing for the first time plus helicopters, parachuting, fireworks and a special Charentais dinner.

This is a wonderful occasion and spectacle so make sure to go along if you can!

The main day is Sunday 6th August at Mainfonds, Aubeville but there are other events in Angouleme on 4th August and Jonzac on Saturday 5th August. Check out the full programme on the official event website.

Arts & Crafts Exposition – Chalais

Between 21st July and 20th August, the 38th exposition of arts and crafts is being held in the beautiful cloisters in Chalais.

There are around 23 exhibitors both demonstrating their crafts and selling their wares – we will be heading there on Tuesday 15th August when there will be live demonstrations…Canoe Expedition – Aubeterre sur Dronne

The picturesque town of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is a great place for canoeing – you can hire canoes or kayaks during the day or join in on one of the many summer events such as the evening canoe expedition on the lovely river Dronne between 20.30 – 23.00…

Brocante – Chateau de la Mercerie

There are hundreds of brocantes across the Charente in August!

Our favorite is at the beautiful Chateau de la Mercerie on 5th August where there is a huge Brocante starting at 6am – and with up to 300 stalls there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Refreshments available throughout the day, rounding off with a dinner at 20.00 and dancing.

Fete du Moulin – Salles Lavalette

Near Salles Lavalette, is the Fete du Moulin Sartier on 5th August, including free guided tours of the flour mill and the working oil mill.

Evening entertainment from 6pm: market of local producers with a bar, barbecue and outdoor dancing later.Night Markets – Charente Wide

Throughout nearly every town in the Charente, you’ll be able to find wonderful night markets with stalls, entertainment and a big meal… usually based around the village square where live music is played!

Explore the Charente by bike…

Whatever your age or ability, it is our aim at Bike Hire Direct Charente to make hiring bikes as easy as possible for you!

There is no need to have the extra hassle of transporting your own bikes… let us know where you are staying and we will deliver bikes directly to your holiday accommodation ready for you to enjoy on your holiday!